In the future, I will be happier than ever, while supporting others, emotionally and physically, to reach for their dreams.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. I am planning to major in global studies which would allow me to learn about different cultures and connections around the world to better understand and prepare me for working in the political and legal realm. I am excited to be able to further my education in the areas that will give me the tools to continue into law school, to become an immigration lawyer, and eventually run for public office. Being born into a military family, I have experienced things that most aren’t afforded the opportunity to. I learned to ski in the Alps, I dined on a riverboat in Budapest, and I watched the time tick at the Astronomical Clock in Prague. I have learned about different cultures and grew to an understanding that it is in these differences that we find beauty. It wasn’t until my father was medically retired and we moved to Arizona that I realized that the things I had seen weren’t the norm. I am a hard worker and throw a lot of focus into maintaining my schoolwork. I attempt to balance this with a wide variety of extracurriculars. It took some time to find my niche and confidence in a new place, but soon I began to grow roots and establish myself as a part of a community. From these roots, I grew and found a passion. I love to serve my community through local politics, advocacy, and philanthropy. I have been able to start awareness campaigns, lead clubs, work with local politicians and see how individuals or small groups of people can make big changes. It is this that has led me to where I am and paint my dreams of becoming a lawyer with hopes of one day running for public office. The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. These topics continuously affect teens and adults across the country but remain taboo. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I plan to continue impacting my community positively. Teens are more comfortable discussing healthy and unhealthy relationships and I am proud of that impact alone. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up in having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic and hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives, for notebooks and Christmas cards, for the human trafficking shelter nearby. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. Unfortunately, both of these topics are topics that continuously affect teens and adults across the country, but remain taboo. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. Teens are more comfortable to discuss healthy and unhealthy relationships and I am proud of that impact alone. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awarness dance that ended up in having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totalling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. I am planning to major in global studies which would allow me to learn about different cultures and connections around the world to better understand and prepare me for working in the political and legal realm. I am excited to be able to further my education in the areas that will give me the tools to continue into law school, to become an immigration lawyer, and eventually run for public office. Being born into a military family, I have experienced things that most aren’t afforded the opportunity to. I learned to ski in the Alps, I dined on a riverboat in Budapest, and I watched time tick at the Astronomical Clock in Prague. I have learned about different cultures and grew to an understanding that it is in these differences that we find beauty. It wasn’t until my father was medically retired and we moved to Arizona that I realized that the things I had seen weren’t the norm. I am a hard worker and throw a lot of focus into maintaining my schoolwork. I attempt to balance this with a wide variety of extra curriculars. It took some time to find my niche and confidence in a new place, but soon I began to grow roots and establish myself as a part of a community. From these roots, I grew and found a passion. I love to serve my community through local politics, advocacy and philanthropy. I have been able to start awareness campaigns, lead clubs, work with local politicians and see how individuals or small groups of people can make big changes. It is this what has led me to where I am and painted my dreams of becoming a lawyer with hopes of one day running for public office. I am planning to avoid student debt through lots of scholarships and hard work. I know that it is idealistic to believe that scholarships are going to cover all of college, but I pride myself on working hard throughout high school to make college more accessible. I am also not ignorant of the idea of working and doing work studies. FInally, I plan to take advantage and make myself aware of every opportunity that there is to avoid college debt.

Good evening, I would first like to extend the warmest welcome to the teachers, the parents, and the supporters sitting here for the graduation of the Class of 2022. This class was like no other. Between the rise of the VSCO girl, a global pandemic, and the increased popularity of TikTok, it is no shock that many of us cry ourselves to sleep at night and all plan to marry rich. Whether we plan to spend the years after this traveling the world or simply eating peanut butter sandwiches with bread we stole from our parent’s house, I have no doubt that we will find our way. Freshman year is history and has been for many months now. We came into this school with fresh ideas and empty minds until we were educated by our teachers, which proved quite difficult with our boisterous personalities and loud minds. Sophomore year came around and before long, we went right back to the comfort of our own homes. COVID-19 was sweeping across the country and devastating communities across the globe. Along comes junior year; the COVID virus remains. But, the schooling did not stop. We had strange schedules and probably way too much screen time. Finally, here we are. The end of senior year. Through all the laughs, tears, and stress, here we are. We might not know what comes next, where we go from here, what we are going to do. But, who does? Life has a funny way of working itself out. All that we can do is say our prayers to whomever we believe in or manifest to the universe and try our best. We all have our guesses about who is going to go where. But, maybe we don’t know where they will go at all. Maybe that really cute boy in math class that plays soccer ends up going to med school. Maybe the valedictorian decides to drop all responsibility and head out to Hollywood in hopes of pursuing an acting career. The truth is, we have no idea where people will end up. We don’t know who is going to do what or where life will take anyone. But, I am going to be blatantly honest with each of you. If any of you all end up successful, I will totally milk it for everyone I know for years. Don’t worry though. If I end up successful, feel free to brag about me too. I won’t complain. As long as it is all good. High school was short, and yet we all managed to have our fair share of drama, successes, and memories that will forever be engraved in our minds. I look forward to the future and all of the mountains that we are to climb from there. Last, but certainly not least, congratulations to the class of 2022. Thank you.

Dear Delaney, Every day graduation gets closer. It must be easier for us since we have an idea of what we want to do in the future. Law. It has always been law. I am proud of you for being as excited as you are to pursue immigration law. Being in a military family and living in Germany gave us a lot of perspectives of the world. Anyway, speaking of passion, who would have thought you would have found a passion for raising awareness about human trafficking and domestic violence. Never give up. Every day I get prouder of you. Yours truly, Delaney Dickey

We, in the United States of America, are known for one thing above all: freedom. One of these freedoms that are often overlooked is the freedom of education. Each person in the United States of America is entitled to be educated, at least past high school. While this is an opportunity that countless people from across the world would give their lives for and we must be eternally grateful to be born Americans, that does not mean that the education system is free of flaws. There are many improvements that can, and likely will be made. One of the most prevalent adjustments that are to be made to make education better for future generations is to strengthen the emphasis on learning rather than merely grades. Unlike many people debating the education given to students, I am not directly opposed to standardized testing. I understand that standardized testing might not be the most effective way to judge the education of students, however, I also understand that students must be tested in order for it to be known that they are educated to the point that is acceptable for their leadership. However, where I do see an issue is when there is more pressure to succeed grade-wise than there is pressure to learn the materials given to them in classes. Having the mindset of focusing on grades merely encourages cheating, skating by, and minimal effort. For students that know that they can get an A by doing the bare minimum, they are not challenged and for the students that do not understand and cannot get an A no matter how hard they work, they are discouraged in attempting to learn. Too often, I have seen students get discouraged from learning, from asking questions, from experimenting. We live in a society in which grades are rewarded more than students that work hard to understand the content. As we move into the future, it is my hope that we can overcome this issue and encourage learning over grades in future generations.

What would people do if we woke up one day and they had no gas, their streets were cluttered with plastic, and the sky was so dark from the smog that they could barely tell that the sun was shining? No one can do anything alone, however, everyone can make a small difference. From using reusable bags to picking up litter to having my own garden to grow fruits and vegetables in, I am dedicated to making a difference in my smaller community. As an individual, there is not much of a difference that can be made. I cannot singlehandedly solve the climate crisis or reduce air and water pollution. It is impossible. But each small action makes a difference, such as using a reusable bag in the grocery store. This is one small thing that can be done to reduce the amount of single-use plastics in my house and could possibly inspire others to do the same, and I look so stylish while doing it. We only have one world. One Earth to take care of a raise the future generations on. It is essential that we take care of it while we can, for we never know when it might be too late.

One thing that every person has in common right now is being isolated. Through this global pandemic, we have all been forced to be confined to our personal quarters. As things begin to reopen and return back to a modified normal, there is one population that cannot be forgotten: the elderly. During this time of isolation, we have all felt alone and separated from the realities of life. I cannot imagine the ways that the elderly are feeling at a time in which they are increasingly more at risk of illness if they return to the social life they once had access to. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, I had to cancel an event that I planned at the retirement home called “Seniors Read to Seniors”; however, that did not stop the involvement. I have consistently participated in programs to write letters to elderly homes and make crafts to be given during the time in which they may feel the most alone. Life during this unprecedented time is hard for everyone. However, it is even harder for those that are not in a position to expose themselves because of their compromised immune systems. We cannot forget about our elders.

Everyone wants to be a leader. While some people claim that leaders are born and not made, however, I disagree. Being a leader is much more than a title attached to a person. Being a leader is being a role model and leading by example while also prioritizing personal connections. No one wants to do something if the leader themself is not willing to help. One of the most important things that a leader can do is be willing to do the same thing that they are asking others to do. Leading by example makes the other people feel as though they are on the same level as the leader. Being a leader is not about being put higher than others. Being a leader is about working on the same level as others to the common goals. Leading through personal connection was not a priority of mine until recently. I have now realized that building those personal connections is just as important as leading by example. Personal connection encourages people to work hard on the project at hand. Along with that, a personal connection allows for the people you are leading to feel supported and safe in the environment that they are working in. One of my proudest moments of high school was when I was asked to be the president of Arizona’s Governor’s Youth Commission. I know that I was not asked because I stood out on paper or that I was anything impossibly irreplaceable. I know that I was asked because of my ability to form personal connections. Building personal connections is my biggest skill. Through a personal connection, I am able to lead effectively, communicate, and grow in myself. I learned the value of personal connection at a young age, but I did not fully seek personal connection until my sophomore year of high school. During that year, I learned that the value of personal connection weighs more than intelligence or personal achievement on its own. I have developed this skill by exposing myself to leadership positions and challenging myself to step out of the comfort of my pre-made contacts. I demonstrate this by allowing myself to talk to everyone that I can and making sure that people know that I am personally interested in their lives. Being a leader is no easy feat. There are incredible challenges, hardships, and setbacks that leaders must work forward from. There are plenty of leaders in the world, some good, some that give us an example of what we don’t want to be. Leadership to me is leading by example and personal connection.

In my freshman year, I had low self-esteem. I did not know where I fit, I did not know what to do with myself, and I made poor friends. I became part of a crowd that I did not want to claim. They began making poor choices and, although I never participated, I stuck with them because I have no one else. It was the end of my freshman year when my teacher asked me to apply to a prestigious organization called the Governor's Youth Commission that was based out of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. I refused, feeling insignificant and meek in comparison to anyone. My teacher was persistent and, eventually, I complied, doing so in secret out of fear of ridicule from my friends. Skipping ahead in the story, I got accepted to that organization and I am currently serving as the president. I gained the confidence to stand up for myself and be content not being friends with people that do not make good choices for themselves, or for me. I am now confident in my own skin and my own independence. I have stayed on the straight and narrow and found who I am by myself, not seeking approval from outside peers.

Living a long, healthy, and happy life is the goal for most people across the world. The task seems daunting and overwhelming. I, however, do not think it is that complex at all. Rather, I think if people live by one simple rule of life, they will find success in the task easily. That one simple rule is as easy as it comes: always be grateful for where one is during that time of their life. I am not going to pretend that I am this overwhelming fountain of gratitude. It is much easier to look to the future, or even look to the past. However, life is much more fulfilling when we look at our successes, no matter how small at the moment. Right now, I am a senior in high school. I am itching of anticipation for college, pulling my hair out from the stress of scholarship applications, and jumping from the excitement of the festivities at school. I often close my eyes, as I lay my head down to sleep, dissatisfied with myself and the long list of tasks to be done. Recently, I have adopted this mindset of being appreciative of the opportunities given and the accomplishments that I have. When I do so, I am able to live each moment to the fullest without stress or fear weighing me down.

As a teenager, there was not much financial advice that I was given. Money seemed like a concept that was made for people much older than me, something that I did not have to worry about for a long time. As I aged up in school and my friends began getting jobs, I realized that money was not a lesson for the future, it was a lesson for now. The biggest piece of financial advice that I have been given is to make a plan and stick to it. Having a plan allows me to understand where my money is going and what choices I have room to make with my money. I can look at something physical to be able to understand where I have room to adjust based on how much money I have. As time goes on, I hope to receive more advice in regards to finances, and more wisdom as I handle more money. I know that I am young and, for lack of better words, dumb. I am going to make mistakes and spend money in silly ways. I know that with this advice, if I am able to make a plan and stick to it, everything will be accounted for and I will eventually learn enough to be able to be a successful adult with much financial wisdom.

When I was younger, I had no self-worth of my own. I wanted to be liked and loved by everyone I came into contact with. Finally, someone told me that I cannot be someone that everyone wants and loves, that is just not the role that I am destined to play for everyone. Sometimes I am going to be the villain and I am going to have to deal with it, but as long as I am the best person that I can be, no one can hold my actions against me. While it might seem like that was a lesson that I should have learned ages ago, and I have to an extent, it never fully made sense until recently. Sometimes we are the enemy. Different perspectives, different people. Even the best people in the world have enemies, so who I am to think that I am any different? I understand this lesson best when relating it to High School Musical. Throughout the movie, the audience thinks that Sharpay is the villain that just hates Gabriella. When looking through Sharpay's eyes, Gabriella came into the school, took over the drama department which was Sharpay's stomping ground, and even took Troy, the boy that Sharpay was in love with forever. While neither of them are bad at heart, they are the villains for each other. So, whether I am the villain in someone else's story because I am valedictorian or I get cast as the lead in the school play, or even if the wrong boy has a crush on me, I have to be the villain sometimes. That does not mean that I have to compromise my character or confidence.

My art form is creative writing. Attetched is a link to a script that I wrote. This script is about human trafficking and follows the life of a girl as she gets groomed and eventually gets pimped out, isolating herself from her family and loved ones. In high school, I am developed a passion for advocacy, focusing mainly on human trafficking and domestic violence. Through this script, I hope ot reach more populations that might be afffected by this issue, which tends to be more people that we think in America. In the future, I hope to continue writing scripts throughout college to raise awareness for serious issues that are being faced by people that are often seen as taboo.

As a teenager, there was not much financial advice that I was given. Money seemed like a concept that was made for people much older than me, something that I did not have to worry about for a long time. As I aged up in school and my friends began getting jobs, I realized that money was not a lesson for the future, it was a lesson for now. The biggest piece of financial advice that I have been given is to make a plan and stick to it. Having a plan allows me to understand where my money is going and what choices I have room to make with my money. I can look at something physical to be able to understand where I have room to adjust based on how much money I have. As time goes on, I hope to receive more advice in regards to finances, and more wisdom as I handle more money. I know that I am young and, for lack of better words, dumb. I am going to make mistakes and spend money in silly ways. I know that with this advice, if I am able to make a plan and stick to it, everything will be accounted for and I will eventually learn enough to be able to be a successful adult with much financial wisdom.

Life is hard and sometimes it feels like the world is going downhill. As a society, we each wake up each day, look at a screen, and already begin the self-pity. Our world is a mess and it has been for as long as any of us can remember. If you can gen x, they will tell you that back in the 80s everything was so much nicer. You ask millennials and they all claim that nothing could be the early 2000s. Even gen z is begging for the 2010s to return. But, there is no going back. No matter how hard we try, the future is ahead of us, and looking to the past does nothing but make us long for something that we will never be able to claim. When I look to the future, despite the temptation to live in the past, I stay hopeful. The biggest thing that gives me hope for the future are my sisters. My sisters are incredibly important to me. I love them more than I love anything else in the world. They are my best friends and my favorite people in the world. My youngest sister is nine. The way that she talks about helping animals when she is older makes me feel as though the younger generations are full of passion and new ideas. The middle sister is helpful beyond words. While she is still searching for a passion, she never hesitates to help or stand up for someone. We have never had the technology that we have now and while that can be scary, it gives us a unique opportunity to see what is to come of it in generations that were raised around the use of technology regularly. If technology instills passion and kindness, I do not think it is as bad as people make it out to be. My sisters make me look at future generations with hope. With their passion and selflessness, I cannot help but think that the future must not be as dark as media and people wrapped up in their daily lives make it sound. I have to think that the future is full of people with just as much passion and love for humans as my sisters have shown time and time again.

When you realize the world isn’t how you perceived it, it can be a shock. An obstacle presented itself when my military father accepted a medical retirement and we shifted into civilian life. The loss of that culture and the ease of making friends was something to mourn. However, the biggest change has been watching my father struggle with his internal battle of PTSD. The kind and fun-loving man that I grew up with had disappeared in front of me, leaving a man filled with anger and stress. I grew conflicted. My father was not only my hero but the hero of so many people across the country. I was happy and proud of that father. But the man that came back was not the same man that left. I caught glimpses of the dad I used to know. His reflection in the mirror was the same, but somewhere, there were invisible scars, something that I could not see. I should be proud of the times that my dad is greeted with the words, “Thank you for your service.” but that is the same service that stole the dad that I had and just left fragments of the man that he used to be. This realization brought about an understanding that sometimes what I see or think I understand, might not be the entire picture. It taught me to look deeper than what is easy for me to comprehend and understand that perception is not everything.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. I am passionate about being able to use my voice to advocate for people that have not had the same opportunities and privileges as myself. I feel as though working as a lawyer I will be able to use my skills of building connections with other people as well as my ability to use my voice. Being in politics would allow me to make large impact in my community and state. I, like so many people before me, want to make a difference. Life is so much more than independence and pride. I plan to use my skills of public speaking and personal connection, to become an immigration lawyer, advocating for people of all backgrounds, and eventually run for public office, using my platform to spark much-needed conversations about human trafficking and domestic violence. The world is small and life is short; I am going to try my best to make the impact I dream of.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up in having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause. As I go into college, I look forward to being able to invest myself further into these topics. I hope to be able to gain more knowledge on the topics and speak to more subject matter experts and survivors. I also look forward to planning more awareness events that remain to be geared towards both raising awareness for these taboo topics and donating much-needed resources to local shelters. No one can change the world alone, however, that does not mean that it is impossible. As we go through our daily lives and become the people that we are meant to be, it is essential that we work together to make a change. Maybe not a change that affects the entire world, or the entire nation, maybe not even the entire town. However, if the change is made in one person’s life, and makes one person’s life better, it makes all the difference. That is the meaning of life- to change the world for at least one person. Through these projects, I hope I am going just that.

I grew up thinking that the hours of the day were collected somewhere between the National Anthem and TAPS. As a military brat, my world was small, but also so much larger than I could comprehend. My dad bloused his combat boots and my family was one without roots. We made home wherever the papers read. The benefits of growing up military are easily balanced out by the harsh realities of the hardships faced by those praying for the empty seat at the dinner table. Just as quickly as the orders were printed, my dad went from being my best friend to a man that I barely recognize. My dad was my hero; I carried his picture and a sense of pride bigger than my young self. The man in uniform that came home decorated in camo was a personal guard of my mind, body, and most importantly, my heart. Having a father that you are proud of is a blessing that too few children can claim. Luckily, I can hold my head up and say firmly that I was proud of my father, or at least I thought I could. As time passed, the realities slowly unfolded and I understood more. The military was not just about seeing camels and protecting little girls in faraway lands that needed to borrow daddies to keep them safe. War. War was devastating nations and tearing families apart. I do not remember when my life changed; maybe the change just subtly crept in like the early morning fog. It was just there one day, I realized that it had. My dad stopped being my hero. He became someone constantly battling everyone and everything seemingly fighting to live. Sometimes his presence was like a tornado leaving disparity and confusion everywhere he touched and others he became irrelevant, a ghost despite living in the same house. It is easy to blame this on the natural distance between a teenager and her father, but this is something beyond. Five times, five times he found himself on foreign soil with a weapon in his hands. Five times he packed a bag and turned from his family to fight a fight bigger than most can comprehend. He finally hung up the beret, but he turned back to his family tangled with PTSD. My family changed, morphed into something that I never could have imagined. Nights that were once filled with joyful walks, laughter, and a palpable closeness turned to tensions, silence, and walking on eggshells. The kind, fun-loving man quick with a joke in his pocket had disappeared, leaving us a father seeping with anger and anxiety. The one that used to wear the superhero cape was now someone unrecognizable. The face in family pictures was the same, but somewhere he wears invisible scars, something that I can not see. He is fighting in his head and I am helpless to ease his pains. His body is beside me, but his mind is still lost in the desert somewhere. I should feel pride when greeted with the words, “Thank you for your service.”, but that service stole my dad and left me fragments of the man I loved. The life of a military child is one of great privilege and honor. There are countless opportunities and experiences that have shaped me and provided me with a worldly understanding of culture and humankind. I am so grateful to have been brought up serving under the flag however, nothing in life comes without a cost. The sticker price for me just happens to be my dad.

Life is not perfect. No matter how much we wish that we could control every aspect, we can’t. Life is full of stress and fear for the future. People have bad days and need to complain. People cannot hold in their emotions and they need someone to be able to listen to them. Being patient is important to me because it allows me to show my love and support for others. As a high school senior, it feels as though I am always surrounded and consumed by stress. The uncertainty of where we are going next year is not the only stressor but also the unprecedented times of COVID-19. Numerous things that we thought of as certain and stable, such as school and work, have become as chaotic as our thoughts for the upcoming year. Through this, the only way that I can help is by showing patience to others. Stress makes people say and do things that they do not mean, by being patient, I show people that life can be hard and shaky, but I am always here for them. Sometimes it feels as though we are fighting the battle of life solo, struggling for every shaking step forward. The only way to show the support that we wish to show to the people that we love is to be patient, even when it feels impossible. One act of patience can make all the difference.

Having a growth mindset is no easy feat. It is so much easier to be negative and adopt a mindset of self-pity. When I was a freshman, I did not care about making my education a priority. I was struggling. I thought that if I was not going to be good at something, why even try? As time went on, I learned not only the importance of education but also how to maintain a growth mindset. I learned to take breaks. I do not mean the type of breaks that turn into hours of scrolling through social media or watching Netflix on my phone. I mean the type of breaks that let me clear my mind and focus on another topic before returning back to the task. I realized that if I continued to confuse myself and stare at the same problem for hours, there was no growth, no breakthroughs. It merely made me hate the subject and even hate that I was not smart enough. By allowing myself to take breaks once I got stuck for an extended period of time, I was able to stay in a growth mindset. I kept myself from getting extremely overwhelmed and began the negative self-talk. While no one is perfect and maintaining a growth mindset remains to be a constant struggle, the task can be done one step at a time. Since my freshman year, I have kept a transcript of straight As, allowing me the opportunity to speak at graduation as my school’s valedictorian, something I could have never achieved without a growth mindset.

Self-care has never been more important for me. It is senior year and I am drowning in college decisions, scholarship applications, and high school grades along with trying to balance a social life and a healthy volunteer work schedule and family time while trying to stay healthy in the midst of a global pandemic. I feel as though I am losing my mind and the only thing that is keeping me grounded are my self-care activities. Grounding. It sounds strange to think about going to a park with grass and taking your shoes off. I am a firm believer that energy needs to be cleansed. Each person has their own way of doing that. It is best for me to be able to separate myself from whatever I am doing to go to the park and feel the cool grass on my toes. I like to imagine my stressed and negative energy as dark and heavy being pushed through my toes into the ground when I exhale. When I inhale, I imagine light green energy replacing the lost dark energy. While I know that it sounds utterly ridiculous, it is a simple way for me to disassociate myself from the chaos of my life. Grounding has given me a set activity for me to do to calm my nerves and the voices in my head. Without the occasional self-care, I would be out of my mind. There is no other way to put it. Life is impossible to balance perfectly and I am still learning the ins and outs of maturing. Self-care lets me calm down and realize that nothing in my life is life or death. Nothing is impossible to change. Everything works out as it ought to.

I grew up in a military family, meaning that my family was one without roots and we made home wherever the papers read. I was not given the opportunities to make friends with other kids in the typical sense. I was able to make friends with kids on the playground, but I have not been able to have long-term people involved in my life. As I have gotten older, I have realized that while I have not been able to see these people face to face for years, they are still my friends. Friendship is so much more than being physically together. Friendship, above all, is about undying support. As a senior, I am realizing that there are so many different directions that my life can take as my high school career is coming to an end. I have recently got back in contact with people that were important to me when I was younger, thanks to technology. To this day, they are still proud of me and the person that I am becoming. They still want what is best for me, even if they are not with me. They are still showing me support in making these big life decisions despite not having been physically in person together for years. Of course, it is ideal to be friends with an actual person and not words on a screen or a voice on the phone, but that is not always how life goes. Friendship is worth so much more than just circumstance. Friendship is about support, forever and always, no matter the circumstances.

Time is the most valuable resource in the world. Everyone wants more of it and it never seems like we have enough. Being willing to be generous with money and items is wonderful, but there is nothing as powerful as being willing to be generous with one’s time. Being generous means being willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of others, even when you might not want to. In this current time, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic, we, as a nation, have seen the importance of mental health in people’s lives. We know that people need shelter, food, water, clothes, and other physical necessities. However, we have also recently realized that people also need support, love, and human connection in general. As a high school senior, I do not have much of anything, including time. But, I will always make time to aid others in any way I can. Life means nothing if we are not helping people. I believe that the only reason we wake up each and every morning is to support and uplift others. I try my best to live my life that way. Generosity has changed each of our lives. From small actions of small talk in the grocery store or larger actions of financial support, we are all affected. Generosity needs to be common. Generosity is the love of humankind.

Everyone is going through battles in their minds and behind closed doors without letting a single person know. When I was a freshman in high school, my dad came home from the military tangled with PTSD, got addicted to the prescriptions he was on, and got sent to a mental hospital. I wanted to be the golden girl, the smart one that was strong and kind. I did not tell a soul despite it constantly tearing me apart inside. Being empathetic is essential in supporting others. Maybe there are people that do not want to have to open up, but being empathetic will allow them to feel like there is a place for them to talk about whatever problem or challenge they may be facing without judgment. I am not an emotional person, but I try my best to show everyone empathy. I understand that life is hard and even if people pretend to put on a smile, they are facing struggles just like everyone else. I treat others with empathy by always being a non-judgemental person in people’s lives. Whether they want to talk about themselves or it is not the right time yet, I will always treat people with respect and kindness.

The sun is hitting the back of my hair and the cold water splashes on my legs. As I push my paddle back propelling my kayak forward, I feel at peace. I am surrounded by the people I love, in a place I love, doing a thing that I love. Nothing could be better. Throughout high school, I have invested myself in numerous clubs and organizations across my school and my community. I had minimal free time, but when I did, I always knew what I wanted to do. I always knew that I would spend that free time surrounded by the red rock of Arizona and the beautiful saguaro cactus that are scattered across the desert. I always went kayaking. Going kayaking gave me an escape. When I kayak, I have a clear head, a level state of being, and a serene state of mind. The flexing of my muscles, the rhythm of the paddle, and the beauty of my surroundings, never fail to remind me that whatever is going on in life, the world is so much bigger. My chaos and mistakes are menial. There is an entire world at my fingertips that is begging to be seen. As I go into my future, I am lucky to have found something as calming as kayaking is for me. It is my favorite hobby and I am not looking to give it up any time soon.

The sun is hitting the back of my hair and the cold water splashes on my legs. As I push my paddle back propelling my kayak forward, I feel at peace. I am surrounded by the people I love, in a place I love, doing a thing that I love. Nothing could be better. Throughout high school, I have invested myself in numerous clubs and organizations across my school and my community. I had minimal free time, but when I did, I always knew what I wanted to do. I always knew that I would spend that free time surrounded by the red rock of Arizona and the beautiful saguaro cactus that are scattered across the desert. I always went kayaking. Going kayaking gave me an escape. When I kayak, I have a clear head, a level state of being, and a serene state of mind. The flexing of my muscles, the rhythm of the paddle, and the beauty of my surroundings, never fail to remind me that whatever is going on in life, the world is so much bigger. My chaos and mistakes are menial. There is an entire world at my fingertips that is begging to be seen. As I go into my future, I am lucky to have found something as calming as kayaking is for me. It is my favorite hobby and I am not looking to give it up any time soon.

The sun is hitting the back of my hair and the cold water splashes on my legs. As I push my paddle back propelling my kayak forward, I feel at peace. I am surrounded by the people I love, in a place I love, doing a thing that I love. Nothing could be better. Throughout high school, I have invested myself in numerous clubs and organizations across my school and my community. I had minimal free time, but when I did, I always knew what I wanted to do. I always knew that I would spend that free time surrounded by the red rock of Arizona and the beautiful saguaro cactus that are scattered across the desert. I always went kayaking. Going kayaking gave me an escape. When I kayak, I have a clear head, a level state of being, and a serene state of mind. The flexing of my muscles, the rhythm of the paddle, and the beauty of my surroundings, never fail to remind me that whatever is going on in life, the world is so much bigger. My chaos and mistakes are menial. There is an entire world at my fingertips that is begging to be seen. As I go into my future, I am lucky to have found something as calming as kayaking is for me. It is my favorite hobby and I am not looking to give it up any time soon.

Equality and diversity are two things that allow for more perspectives. Too many times in the world we only hear one side of the story. We only talk about what is comfortable. The things that are uncomfortable are seen as wrong. I am white. While I cannot add to the diversity racially, I realize that there are so many problems that I have been ignorant to. During these years in quarantine, I have worked on expanding my knowledge. This is not my time to shine. There are races across the globe that are finally being given the opportunity to speak their truth, a truth that I have never heard before. Maybe it is that I grew up in white-dominated areas or maybe it is that people that were not white have never had the opportunities to stand for themselves like they have been able to these past few years. Or maybe- the most likely of the choices- a mix of both. As we go into a world that is more accepting and is working towards true equality, we all must do our parts to keep from judging and forming prejudice. Right now, my role in that is to stay open-minded and to seek the information that I have been ignorant to in the past.

Being a teenager, I go through rough patches. Recently, I joined the cheer team only to be bullied off the team by the coach. It was easy for me to feel bad about myself, after all, I was the center of all the rumors around school and they weren't even started by a peer. As it is for many people, music was an escape. I've never felt a strong personal connection to music. I don't know how to play any instruments, I have no rhythm, and I definitely can't sing. But, in this time of self-doubt, I listened to music. The one song that spoke to me the most was "100 Bad Days" by AJR. This song felt real. It acknowledged that sometimes life sucks, without any other way of putting it. But, it also acknowledged that life doesn't always suck forever and, maybe, one day, these stories that make your life suck at the moment might turn humorous. Everything in life happens for a reason, even if that reason seems incomprehensible at the moment. Life is humorous, nothing needs to be taken that seriously. It is all going to be over before we know it, so we have to take the challenges as they come. Even in my situation, I have to admit that it is so high school to be bullied off the cheer team. In truth, it is hilarious that I even was ON the cheer team. This song inspired me to look past my self-pity and look to the future. Life is a journey that must be taken one foot in front of the other.

When people think of me, people think of the smart girl that can answer questions in class, people think of the girl that is involved in everything, and, more importantly, people think of me as the girl that is always smiling. It is easy to think that what other people think doesn't matter, but it does. After all, what people think of you is all that there is that others base their opinions of you on. When I die and my legacy is left behind, I want that to be a legacy of kindness, strength, and joy. I am not self-centered enough to claim that I am all of those things or even that those things come naturally to me. It takes work. I would much rather snap at people and wallow in self-pity all day than have to stand up in from of people and put a fake smile on. But, as I've gotten older, I realize that there comes a point that it isn't about me. Sometimes people just need someone to be consistently positive, so I have made it my mission to be that person. Yes, I know that it is impossible to be perfect, but I can try. I can do into each day with a smile on my face. When I die, nothing will be passed down but the stories that were made when I was living. I am working very hard for those stories to fit a legacy that is kind, strong, and joyful.

I want people to feel like my love is unconditional as much as humanly possible. I never want someone to be afraid to confide in me because they are afraid of me being frustrated or upset with them. The biggest way that I encourage those around me is by being a person that is always there to support them. At the end of the day, people are going to do what people want to do, especially teenagers. More than that, the person doing the actions is going to know more about what is best for them than anyone else will. It is not fair of me to draw conclusions or judge someone for the actions that they believe to be best. The best role that I can play is someone that is supportive and encouraging. If I am that character, they know that even if they fail, they always have someone there to help them get back on their feet. Life is about taking risks and trying your best. I always let people know that I am there for them to encourage others to do just that.

I did not know what human trafficking was until my sophomore year. I was put onto a youth commission through the state and was assigned to the workgroup of “Human Trafficking Awareness”. I dreaded it. When I finally got to the meeting and talked with them, my eyes were opened. I always knew that kidnapping was scary, but I never realized it was a problem faced by Americans. Since joining this workgroup, I learned about human trafficking, grooming, and countless normalized relationship actions. I was shocked to know that these were issues faced by my peers and yet, I have never heard about any of it or any resources. Since then, I have challenged myself to continue my knowledge and bring light to this taboo topic. I have found a passion in raising awareness for human trafficking. Since learning about it, I have ran two drives for the local human trafficking safe house, one for Christmas cards and one for journals. These projects are small, but the only solution is breaking the taboo. In the future, I hope to continue my passion projects to raise awareness. Human trafficking is a serious issue that is not talked to about as much as it should.

Being born into a military family, you are tasked with attempting to grasp hard topics at a young age. I was supposed to understand why we had to move so often, I was supposed to understand why I never saw extended family, and, most importantly, I was supposed to understand why my dad was never around. I knew. I knew that my dad was fighting the bad guys in some other country. But I did not understand. Every year he had to deploy and I was told to say goodbye like it was our last, because maybe it was going to be. I learned to be optimistic in face of everything happening around me. As far as I was concerned, my moves were new adventures, my family could still call, and my dad would come back each and every time. Being optimistic is hard. The biggest thing that being optimistic has taught me is how to be strong, even when it is not easy. I also learned that one person’s energy can affect all people in your surrounding areas. When someone is optimistic, it is much easier to be optimistic yourself. More than that, nothing can change the future. Therefore, there is no reason to stress about things that have yet to happen. It should always be the first reaction to look on the bright side.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. Immigration law is an area that often gets overlooked. Millions of people are blessed to be able to call themselves American citizens, but millions of others are still fighting for that right. Being able to represent these people that are deserving of citizenship is my dream. To be able to guide them through the complexity and challenges of the court system and the confusing laws. When the time is right, I would also like to run for public office, specifically on the state level. This would give me the platform to be able to advocate for human trafficking and domestic violence awareness- topics that are too often characterized as taboo. As far as a family goes, I would love to have one if that is in the cards. I am close with my nuclear family now and I would love to spread that love to other people. However, that is not something to chase. If it happens, it happens. Until then, I will be doing everything in my ability to make a difference in the world.

Countless people across the world, and America, struggle with mental health. Whether the struggle is faced through a parent, friends, or felt by oneself, mental health continues to be a problem that plagues our globe. While I am grateful for the growth that has happened, the fight against stigmas of mental health is a big one that is not easily overcome. One of the only practical solutions to help more people that struggle with mental health is to continue to fight against the stigmas. My father was a military veteran. By the time that he was able to retire, he had severe PTSD. He was no longer the father that I remember, rather he was a man that needed meds and therapy. As time went on, I, too, had to begin going to therapy because of the fallout of being a military child. I was humiliated. I did not want to be the weird girl that was just too hormonal to keep her emotions in check. More people are understanding that mental health is a problem that millions of people encounter. The stigma is breaking, but it is not shattered. The more that we, as a society, support those struggling and be open about our personal struggles, the less of a stigma people will have to overcome. Mental health is an important issue. No one deserves to feel unloved, uncared for, or stressed. We can tackle this issue if we keep an open mind and open hearts. If we each do our part, the stigma does not stand a chance.

When I started high school, I had no friends. I went to a school that none of my friends went to and it was easy for me to fall into the wrong crowds. I made friends with people that made choices that I did not want to be making. I was very grateful to be able to have a teacher that served as a mentor to me. This teacher taught me to be confident in myself by giving me support and encouragement. Learning from my previous mentor, as I begin to mentor others, I want to give them the same support and encouragement that my teacher gave me. Support is one small thing that can make a world of difference. Having the support to do something that you have been wanting to do allows for people to do what they think is right. Without support, one might be more willing to stay in situations that they do not want to be in because they do not feel confident enough to leave. As a mentor, I want to be able to provide undying support for people to better themselves and their surroundings. Encouragement is essential. No matter how small the encouragement is, it could make a world of difference. Similar to support, encouragement allows for confidence to grow. As a mentor, I think that the most meaningful thing that I can encourage my mentees to do is be confident in themselves. While it is not simple, with the help of others, it is possible.

Being alone doesn't mean being independent. While that might play a role in being independent, it is not the entire meaning. Being independent is being self-sufficient. Being self motivated and self confident, that is being independent. Students are often misguided into thinking that no one can be independent if they have an involved family, loving friends, or people that care about them. We are led to think that in order to be independent, we must be completely alone, solving all problems without the support or help of others. Independence is being able to be your own person with confidence and grace. Being independent has taught me a lot about the person that I am. It taught me how to step out of my comfort zone and be confident in myself. While I still love my family and remain close with them, being independent allowed me to pursue opportunities that if I was not as independent, would not have been possible. I am still learning and still growing, I am only a teenager, but I know that my independence will only grow. As I get older, I know that my independence is going to open numerous doors for me. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. Majoring in international affairs would allow me to learn about different cultures and connections around the world to better understand and prepare me for working in the political and legal realm. Throughout high school, I have become involved in youth organizations working with the local and state governments. It has become apparent to me that working in government is something that I am increasingly interested in. After receiving my undergrad, I am interested in going to law school. My dream is to be an immigration lawyer. I would also like to run for public office on the state level. Through these careers, I would be able to use my voice and my passions to advocate for people that might not know how to advocate for themselves in the courts. I would also be able to have a platform to advocate for human trafficking and domestic violence awareness- topics that are too often categorized as taboo.

Confidence is when someone can walk around with their heads high, not having a care in the world about what other people think of them. Confidence is contagious. In my short life experience, I have learned that confidence has nothing to do with the outside world. Confidence does not mean that other people do not talk badly about them or spread rumors about them. Confidence is merely not caring. Confidence is knowing who you are without needing the validation of others. I am a teenage girl meaning that confidence does not always come easily. Every step towards feeling good about myself gets pushed back because of rumors or bad test grades. Despite having confidence, it is fragile. I am working on being more confident through self-affirmations. Not strictly saying words into the mirror in the morning or at night, but also throughout the day reminding myself that I am not the person that other people make me out to be. I know that I work hard and do my best to aid everyone I come across. I know that I am smart and kind. There is no need for me to listen to the words of people that barely know me. I am also working on being alone with myself. Sometimes, the negative and intrusive thoughts get loud and they are hard to hide from. So, I bury myself in extracurriculars and outside validation. I am realizing that the more comfortable I get hearing my own thoughts, the less I think negatively and the more I love myself. Gaining confidence is an uphill battle, but I am getting to the top, one step after the other.

Time management has always come easily to me. Since I was little, I understood having to have time to do homework, have fun, and spend time with family. There was never a time that I struggled in attempting to juggle all of the aspects of my life. As I have come into high school, the skill has continued. It is incredibly simple for me to be involved in school, the community, and my family while also keeping up with schoolwork and other responsibilities. As my younger sister, Kenna, has been transitioning into middle school, time management unfortunately does not come as simply to her. Kenna is one of my favorite people in the world. I would do and give anything to be able to see her succeed and be happy. So, when it became apparent that she was struggling to keep up, I quickly dropped all of my tasks and designated time for her. She was struggling being on two cheer teams, the National Junior Honor Society, and school. While I remember being on a similar schedule as her many years before, I never remembered falling behind and having a challenge. I was, and always have been, a very logical thinker. I decided to see if writing out a schedule would work. We got out the pens and paper and wrote all of her commitments- color coordinated to make it a bit more fun. We saw where she had time to spend doing homework or spending time with her friends and family. It was easier for her to see the schedule once it was all laid out and was not nearly as overwhelming. She still had a lot to do and remained very busy, but she would easily tell what she had to do and where she needed to spend her time. After laying out her schedule, I decided that it might be time for a sister heart-to-heart. I told her that sometimes we do not have the time do to everything that we wished to. Sometimes we have to make choices where to spend our time. While it would be nice to have all the minutes in the world to dedicate to anything and everything, that is not reality. Kenna has to make choices of which things will be her priorities in the future to not overwhelm herself. I also let her know that it is not an easy thing; even today I struggle with not overcommitting myself. But, I know what is important to me and I make sure, no matter how busy I am, that I make time for it. As time goes on and both Kenna and I grow, I know that both of us will excel. We both have things we can learn and things we can teach. I know that Kenna is still growing. I am grateful that I was there to help her along the way.

I remember growing up in a family that taught me how to be strong. Being born into a military family, we moved often, said goodbye to my father annually, and made new friends daily. However, when my life changed in middle school and we transitioned into civilian life, I was lost. Kids were immensely different, norms in communities were strange, and fathers were not being deployed regularly. I did not really know who I was or who I am supposed to be. As time went on and I gained confidence, I have realized that my voice is a wonderful trait of mine. I know how to stand up for myself and others. I am comfortable talking about taboo topics and sharing my opinions. It is much easier for me to talk about whatever my heart desires than it is for other people. While my goals are still developing, I am confident in the ability of my voice. I am interested in pursuing law, specifically immigration law, to advocate for those that cannot. I am also hoping to one day run for public office to use my voice and my passions to give back to my community.

If I could share one sentence with the world, I would share the classic Bible verse of John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This quote is discussing the love that God had for every person in this world. It also talks about how death is not the end and should not be feared. God is always here for them. While I full-heartedly support and encourage the freedom of religion and respect people of all religions and religious backgrounds, John 3:16 is an incredible verse. If this sentence is going to be told to everyone in the world, I am confident that it will aid someone in continuing with life. There are millions of people in the world that are in dark places and mindsets. Hearing this verse might remind them that they are loved and are never alone. This verse is a classic and popular verse that is known by Christians and non-Christian alike. Someone likely needed to hear this verse. It helped me through some tough spots in my life, I know that it will help someone else as well.

Joy is much more than happiness. Joy is when no other feeling can interfere with the lightness of one's heart. Joy is bright and careless. Nothing can replace joy. Joy is the feeling of having to attempt to contain oneself from jumping for joy and laughing from happiness. Joy is when you have been so concerned about something to find out that it was no worry at all. Unfortunately, pure joy is rare, but that makes it even more beautiful. I often find myself stressed and pressured. I want to do everything and I do not have time for that. As time goes on, I must be more conscientious of focusing on the great things in my life. I am very fortunate. I have a loving family that takes exciting trips. I have friends that love me and everything that my little heart could need. If I could look past my own pride and mental blocks of needing to be perfect in every area, I would be able to feel joy more often. I feel happy when I am with my sisters, reading, kayaking, or so many other activities. But it never reaches joy because I block myself with my own thoughts. When I choose to let go of the pressure and things out of my control, I will feel joy more frequently when doing the things I love with the people I love.

I come from a military family, but I found a home in a small town between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Casa Grande has become part of myself and I am incredibly proud of it. I just want Casa Grande to be proud of me as well. When I wake up each morning, I am motivated to give back to my community as it did to me. Casa Grande gave me a place to call my own. I finally had somewhere to claim. Casa Grande gave me lots of opportunities to not only become part of the community physically but also to meet countless people that changed the course of my life and helped shape who I am today. I owe so much of my life to Casa Grande. I love my sisters more than anything in the world. They are my best friends and my biggest motivations. I want them to not only be proud of me but also to look up to me. I do not care if they look at my grades or resume, but I want them to look at who I am as a person. I am motivated to become a selfless and kind person. While being smart is amazing, nothing replaces kindness. I want to be a person that my sisters look at like a role model of the person they want to become.

I am easily stressed and overwhelmed. I put so much pressure on myself to be perfect. I want straight A’s and to be involved and to be nice to everyone at all times. But, I am a teenager. I am learning and growing. It is not realistic to be perfect- unfortunately. The biggest thing that makes me feel loved is the constant reassurance that my friends and family give me. I know that it would be so much simpler for them to just tell me to suck it up and move on. They never do. They will listen to me rant and even care to attempt to help me. I am not always rational, just like many teenagers before me. I know that rumors happen in high school, but it never fails to send me into a downward spiral when I hear people saying less than pleasing things about me, especially when they are not true. I know that my friends love me when they stand up for me and when they stand by me. Sometimes, it is tempting to feed into the high school drama of the courtyards. My friends never fail to show me how loyal they are and remind me of how lucky I am. I have been blessed with some pretty amazing people in my life. I am incredibly grateful for them each day. I know that my friends and family love me. I know that I will never be alone in life. I know that I am cared for. Life would be dull without my loved ones. I love my friends and family and I know that they love me.

School is hard. To challenge young people’s minds and allow growth is the main goal of the school. In recent days, it has been easier to worry about grades rather than the actual learning that should be taking place. Unfortunately, I have also fallen victim to the pressure of succeeding based on the letter grade rather than the actual learning. Recently, I have realized that there is no success without the knowledge and that it is essential that I allow myself to learn, no matter the grade on PowerSchool. As I begin to prioritize learning, I realize that I have to be open to asking for help. As an honors student, I have been humiliated to ask for help, especially when it comes to school. I am supposed to be independent, brilliant, and self-reliant. In order to take the small step of education, I was directed to attempt an online tutoring program through the public library. I was able to connect to a tutor without anyone knowing or judging. This small step allowed me to learn the content that I was supposed to be learning more efficiently, which, in turn, allowed me to have higher letter grades, despite that not being the priority. The older I get, the more I have needed to learn about how to study by myself. The most effective way that I have learned to study is to merely review the content. Rather than trying to relearn the material or take notes, which left my head spinning and unable to retain all of the information, I ask myself questions about the material and see if I am correct. Using this method, I am able to see which topics I am strong at and which are weak, while also not being overwhelmed.

As so many people before me and so many people after me are going to say, traveling is a huge part of my bucket list. I was given the opportunity to live in Germany when my father was stationed on a base in Bavaria for the United States Air Force. This allowed me to experience much of European culture and learn most of my history through first-hand, in-person experiences. In the future, I am looking forward to being able to travel to any Asia country to be able to see the difference between western and eastern cultures. Most specifically, it would be amazing to be able to go on a mission trip to Thailand to help people that are involved in human trafficking rings. Human trafficking and domestic violence awareness are other items on my bucket list. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. In the future, I hope to raise more awareness about these taboo topics and run more drives to aid the local shelters.

One of my proudest moments of high school was when I was asked to be the president of Arizona’s Governor’s Youth Commission. I know that I was not asked because I stood out on paper or that I was anything impossibly irreplaceable. I know that I was asked because of my ability to form personal connections. Building personal connections is my biggest skill. Through a personal connection, I am able to lead effectively, communicate, and grow in myself. I learned the value of personal connection at a young age, but I did not fully seek personal connection until my sophomore year of high school. During that year, I learned that the value of personal connection weighs more than intelligence or personal achievement on its own. I have developed this skill by exposing myself to leadership positions and challenging myself to step out of the comfort of my pre-made contacts. I demonstrate this by allowing myself to talk to everyone that I can and making sure that people know that I am personally interested in their lives.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout high school was awareness of human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community. Although my projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up hosting 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Creativity plays a large factor in advocacy. Teens are tired of hearing the same phrases and going to the same events. I have to use my creativity to find projects and outreach campaigns that are going to be engaging and intriguing for my target audience. It is always easier said than done.

I have been born into a very fortunate life. I have traveled, I have never gone hungry, and most importantly, I live in a household where blood doubles as my best friends. I am not going to pretend that I am this overwhelming fountain of gratitude. It is much easier to look to the future, or even look to the past. However, life is much more fulfilling when we look at our successes, no matter how small at the moment. Right now, I am a senior in high school. I am itching of anticipation for college, pulling my hair out from the stress of scholarship applications, and jumping from the excitement of the festivities at school. I often close my eyes, as I lay my head down to sleep, dissatisfied with myself and the long list of tasks to be done. Recently, I have adopted this mindset of being appreciative of the opportunities given and the accomplishments that I have. When I do so, I am able to live each moment to the fullest without stress or fear weighing me down.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause. It is always glorified to stand up for others. People are applauded for speaking for the people that don’t have a voice and bringing topics with a lack of education to the light. It is harder to stand up for yourself. As I have gotten older, I have made friends with the wrong crowds, been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and been pressured to do things that are completely against my morals. I am proud to say that I have always advocated for myself and remained to stay on the track that I have chosen, no matter who is there, I will stay true to myself.

The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the United States Supreme Court: all of these things have to do with the American law, each contributing different importance of the law in our modern-day society. Looking back onto early governments, there were debates regarding the philosophies of natural rights and classical republicanism. The importance of law in this modern time agrees with both philosophies. Law in modern society is able to ensure the rights that people believe they were given by nature- such as believed by the natural rights philosophy. Law also is important because it ensures public safety, an idea that promotes the common good- as described by the classical republicanism philosophy. One of the most beautiful things about the United States of America is the rights that the citizens, and even non-citizens, are given. From the freedom of speech to the right to vote, the law is what protects these rights. Aside from the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and property, American citizens are given rights, many of which are unique to the United States of America. The freedom of speech allows people on American soil to stand up for what they believe in and what they see going wrong in the government without fear of governmental retaliation. The Establishment Clause restricts the Supreme Court from establishing a national religion, which allows religious diversity. Voting rights allow citizens to share their voices and opinions on governmental leaders and ideas that are on the ballot. The fourth amendment protects against law enforcement collecting evidence without a search warrant and the fifth amendment protects against self-incrimination. While I could go on describing the rights that Americans are given, each one is immensely important. Each right provides certain irreplaceable privileges. These freedoms allow for progression, due to the public's freedom to express, change, due to the public's freedoms of protest and voting, and national pride. American citizens are given vast opportunities to be the person that they can choose for themselves. Laws are important because not only does it protect our rights to these freedoms, it also gives us the rights to these freedoms. The law keeps people safe. That is at least what people say; the idea seems simple enough. But, what part of the law keeps people safe? Knowing that I can go to sleep at night with police officers roaming the streets, attempting to find people breaking the law, I can sleep peacefully. If there were no laws, there would be nothing to enforce; there would be no protections for the people. More than that, laws provide safety much more than other individuals. Laws protect citizens from corporations, food companies, medical malpractice, and countless more areas. Laws provide this expectation of safety that would not be present if laws were not in place. Laws are essential to providing the safety that American citizens expect. Without the law, the United States of America would be in disarray. Nothing that the citizens know now would be the same. The law is more important than most citizens give it credit for. Despite the constant debate between classical republicanism or natural rights, without the law, there would be a lack of ensuring rights as well as a lack of safety.

In my freshman year, I had low self-esteem. I did not know where I fit, I did not know what to do with myself, and I made poor friends. I became part of a crowd that I did not want to claim. They began making poor choices and, although I never participated, I stuck with them because I have no one else. It was the end of my freshman year when my teacher asked me to apply to a prestigious organization called the Governor's Youth Commission that was based out of the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. I refused, feeling insignificant and meek in comparison to anyone. My teacher was persistent and, eventually, I complied, doing so in secret out of fear of ridicule from my friends. Skipping ahead in the story, I got accepted to that organization and I am currently serving as the president. I gained the confidence to stand up for myself and be content not being friends with people that do not make good choices for themselves, or for me. I am now confident in my own skin and my own independence. I have stayed on the straight and narrow and found who I am by myself, not seeking approval from outside peers.

I grew up thinking that the hours of the day were collected somewhere between the National Anthem and TAPS. As a military brat, my world was small, but also so much larger than I could comprehend. The benefits of growing up in the military are easily balanced out by the harsh realities of the hardships faced by those praying for the empty seat at the dinner table. Just as quickly as the orders were printed, my dad went from being my best friend to a man that I barely recognize. My dad was my hero. The man in uniform was a personal guard of my mind, body, and my heart. Having a father that you are proud of is a blessing that too few children can claim. Luckily, I can hold my head up and say firmly that I was proud of my father, or at least I thought I could. As time passed, the realities slowly unfolded and I understood more. The military was not just about seeing camels and protecting little girls. War was devastating nations. I do not remember when my life changed. It was just there one day. My dad stopped being my hero. He became someone constantly battling everyone. Sometimes his presence was like a tornado leaving disparity and confusion and others he became irrelevant. It is easy to blame this on the natural distance between a teenager and her father, but this is something beyond. Five times he found himself on foreign soil with a weapon in his hands. Five times he packed a bag and turned from his family to fight a fight. He finally hung up the beret, but he turned back to his family tangled with PTSD. My family changed, morphed into something that I never could have imagined. Nights that were once filled with joyful walks, laughter and a palpable closeness turned to tensions, silence, and walking on eggshells. The kind, fun-loving man had disappeared, leaving us a father seeping with anger and anxiety. He is fighting in his head and I am helpless to ease his pains. His body is beside me, but his mind is still lost in the desert. I should feel pride when greeted with the words, “Thank you for your service.”, but that service stole my dad and left me fragments of the man I loved. I am so grateful to have been brought up serving under the flag however, nothing in life comes without a cost. The sticker price for me just happens to be my dad. I know that my dad is a person with a heart of gold. I also know that this is the sacrifice that countless military members live with. One challenge of my life was having to explain my relationship with my dad to my peers. They did not understand why he would say mean things to me, they did not understand that certain words set him into a downward spiral, and they did not understand why my dad did not act like other “normal” people. I was humiliated to have to claim my father and even more embarrassed that I had to explain that there was something different with his brain, knowing that all we could do was go to therapy and allow for my dad to be prescribed meds. It is not out of personal events that “damaged” my father’s brain; it was his actions of putting himself into battle for America. I should be proud of this selfless sacrifice, but rather, I am constrained to embarrassment because of the stigmas around mental health.

Living a long, healthy, and happy life is the goal for most people across the world. The task seems daunting and overwhelming. I, however, do not think it is that complex at all. Rather, I think if people live by one simple rule of life, they will find success in the task easily. That one simple rule is as easy as it comes: always be grateful for where one is during that time of their life. I am not going to pretend that I am this overwhelming fountain of gratitude. It is much easier to look to the future, or even look to the past. However, life is much more fulfilling when we look at our successes, no matter how small at the moment. Right now, I am a senior in high school. I am itching of anticipation for college, pulling my hair out from the stress of scholarship applications, and jumping from the excitement of the festivities at school. I often close my eyes, as I lay my head down to sleep, dissatisfied with myself and the long list of tasks to be done. Recently, I have adopted this mindset of being appreciative of the opportunities given and the accomplishments that I have. When I do so, I am able to live each moment to the fullest without stress or fear weighing me down.

I grew up thinking that the hours of the day were collected somewhere between the National Anthem and TAPS. As a military brat, we made home wherever the papers read. My dad was my hero. The man in uniform that came home decorated in camo was my personal guard. I can hold my head up and say firmly that I was proud of my father, or at least I thought I could. As time passed, I realized the military was not just about seeing camels and protecting little girls. War was devastating nations. My dad stopped being my hero. He became someone constantly battling everyone and everything. Sometimes his presence was like a tornado leaving disparity and confusion and others he became irrelevant. Five times my dad found himself on foreign soil with a weapon in his hands. Five times he packed a bag and turned from his family. When he turned back to his family, he was tangled with PTSD. Nights that were once filled with joyful walks, laughter, and a palpable closeness turned to tensions, silence, and walking on eggshells. The kind, fun-loving man had disappeared, leaving us a father seeping with anger and anxiety. The face in family pictures was the same, but somewhere he wears invisible scars. His body is beside me, but his mind is lost in the desert. I should feel pride when greeted with the words, “Thank you for your service.”, but that service stole my dad and left me fragments of the man I loved. The life of a military child is one of great privilege and honor. I am so grateful to have been brought up serving under the flag however, nothing in life comes without a cost. The sticker price for me just happens to be my dad.

I have been very fortunate to be born into a military family that was stationed in Germany, which gave me the opportunity to see many countries and many breathtaking art pieces up close and personal. When I was ten years old, I went on a trip to Italy with my family. In Rome, Italy, we toured the Vatican, as countless tourists have before us. When I walked into the Sistine Chapel, holding my mom’s hand, with the provided tour headphones in my ears, my eyes widened and my heart dropped. As a child, I have never seen anything so vast. I was amazed by the colors and stories being told on every wall. The Sistine Chapel showed me that art was timeless. I learned from that trip that even the smallest action, such as painting a picture, can leave people in awe for centuries. It inspired me to make a legacy that people, maybe not as many people, but people nonetheless, will look back on in awe.

When I was a kid, everything seemed right or wrong, black or white. There was no such thing as being kind of selfless. A person was selfless or selfish, not in-between. As I’ve gotten older I realize that being selfless is hard. By nature, it is much easier to be self-centered. I have also realized that being selfless is not the act of ALWAYS putting other people above yourself and stopping your entire life at the drop of a hat. I now see selflessness as being able to understand one’s personal privilege and doing everything in one’s capabilities to advocate and support others. The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, I am confident that I have done what I could to give back. I look forward to projects being planned in the future.

As influential figures, people are given power. Maybe not power as the power to make laws or to change the expectations, but the power of influence, which is arguably much more powerful than the others. If given the opportunity to be a highly influential figure, the main thing that I would stand for is healthy relationships. There are things that have become all too common in this modern society. From sharing locations to getting angry because their significant other did not message them back within five minutes, this upcoming generation is left feeling guilty about having boundaries and confused about how relationships are supposed to be. With the weakened relationship knowledge, online grooming for trafficking rings is increasing, teen dating violence is becoming more common, and peer pressure is once again resurfacing. There is, unfortunately, no perfect solution for any of these issues. The only thing that we as a society can reduce these statistics is to reduce the taboo surrounding these topics, which includes starting these conversations with our loved ones, friends, and peers. It is awkward to talk about relationships, even healthy ones. It is even more awkward to ask questions. I know that it is essential to talk about awkward things to make any difference. Healthy relationships need to be talked about.

Everyone needs help sometimes. Listening is being able to be invested in the lives of others and be able to not only hear their words with your ears but also to hear their words with your heart, being willing to do everything in your power to do whatever the person needs. Listening is not just the act of not talking while others are talking. Listening is hearing the words and taking the actions that the person needs. Actively listening is not easy. I have my own life and my own struggles that are all too easy to get wrapped up in. I have to constantly remind myself to stay open-minded and not be self-centered. If I know that I can do something for the person that is confiding in me or if I have some wisdom, despite me being very young and my life experience being limited, I will always go out of my way to support the person in any way possible. A good listener is irreplaceable. If no one listened, nothing would be solved. The world would be in ashes, people’s mental health would be in the trash, and most importantly, there would be nothing to listen to because the world would be in so much disarray full of noise. The art of listening properly is a challenge, but it makes a world of difference.

The communities in which we live give so much more to us than we give it credit for. The government upkeeps the town and provides safety through the emergency responders. The schools give an education that is illegal in much of the world. The populations give opportunities that are independent and unique to each community. It is incredibly important that we give back to our communities. The meaning of life is to change the world, even if it is just one person’s world. The selflessness of people in my life changed me for the better; it is only fair that I repay the favor. The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, I am confident that I have done what I could to give back. My projects impacted at least one life.

As a teenager, there was not much financial advice that I was given. Money seemed like a concept that was made for people much older than me, something that I did not have to worry about for a long time. As I aged up in school and my friends began getting jobs, I realized that money was not a lesson for the future, it was a lesson for now. The biggest piece of financial advice that I have been given is to make a plan and stick to it. Having a plan allows me to understand where my money is going and what choices I have room to make with my money. I can look at something physical to be able to understand where I have room to adjust based on how much money I have. As time goes on, I hope to receive more advice in regards to finances, and more wisdom as I handle more money. I know that I am young and, for lack of better words, dumb. I am going to make mistakes and spend money in silly ways. I know that with this advice, if I am able to make a plan and stick to it, everything will be accounted for and I will eventually learn enough to be able to be a successful adult with much financial wisdom.

As a teenager, there was not much financial advice that I was given. Money seemed like a concept that was made for people much older than me, something that I did not have to worry about for a long time. As I aged up in school and my friends began getting jobs, I realized that money was not a lesson for the future, it was a lesson for now. The biggest piece of financial advice that I have been given is to make a plan and stick to it. Having a plan allows me to understand where my money is going and what choices I have room to make with my money. I can look at something physical to be able to understand where I have room to adjust based on how much money I have. As time goes on, I hope to receive more advice in regards to finances, and more wisdom as I handle more money. I know that I am young and, for lack of better words, dumb. I am going to make mistakes and spend money in silly ways. I know that with this advice, if I am able to make a plan and stick to it, everything will be accounted for and I will eventually learn enough to be able to be a successful adult with much financial wisdom.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause.

One of my proudest moments of high school was when I was asked to be the president of Arizona’s Governor’s Youth Commission. I know that I was not asked because I stood out on paper or that I was anything impossibly irreplaceable. I know that I was asked because of my ability to form personal connections. Building personal connections is my biggest skill. Through a personal connection, I am able to lead effectively, communicate, and grow in myself. I learned the value of personal connection at a young age, but I did not fully seek personal connection until my sophomore year of high school. During that year, I learned that the value of personal connection weighs more than intelligence or personal achievement on its own. I have developed this skill by exposing myself to leadership positions and challenging myself to step out of the comfort of my pre-made contacts. I demonstrate this by allowing myself to talk to everyone that I can and making sure that people know that I am personally interested in their lives. The trait that I love most about myself is my ability to build personal connections. I have an incredible value placed on the personal connections that I have made, not because I expect something out of them, but because I know that they are important.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. I am passionate about being able to use my voice to advocate for people that have not had the same opportunities and privileges as myself. I feel as though working as a lawyer I will be able to use my skills of building connections with other people as well as my ability to use my voice. Being in politics would allow me to make a large impact in my community and state. I, like so many people before me, want to make a difference. Life is so much more than independence and pride. I plan to use my skills of public speaking and personal connection, to become an immigration lawyer, advocating for people of all backgrounds, and eventually run for public office, using my platform to spark much-needed conversations about human trafficking and domestic violence. The world is small and life is short; I am going to try my best to make the impact I dream of.

No one can change the world alone, however, that does not mean that it is impossible. As we go through our daily lives and become the people that we are meant to be, it is essential that we work together to make a change. Maybe not a change that affects the entire world, or the entire nation, maybe not even the entire town. However, if the change is made in one person’s life, and makes one person’s life better, it makes all the difference. That is the meaning of life- to change the world for at least one person. The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I changed at least one person’s life. I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up having over 100 students attend before the COVID-19 pandemic. I also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss human trafficking with teens. I have hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter, the Phoenix Dream Center. The drives were for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, collecting over 60 journals, and Christmas cards, collecting over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers to problems that are often overlooked. I was able to start open conversations, which is important in any awareness cause. I am confident that my projects made a difference in at least one person’s life.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause. It is always glorified to stand up for others. People are applauded for speaking for the people that don’t have a voice and bringing topics with a lack of education to the light. It is harder to stand up for yourself. As I have gotten older, I have made friends with the wrong crowds, been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and been pressured to do things that are completely against my morals. I am proud to say that I have always advocated for myself and remained to stay on the track that I have chosen, no matter who is there, I will stay true to myself.

When you realize the world isn’t how you perceived it, it can be a shock. An obstacle presented itself when my military father accepted a medical retirement and we shifted into civilian life. The loss of that culture and the ease of making friends was something to mourn. However, the biggest change has been watching my father struggle with his internal battle of PTSD. The kind and fun-loving man that I grew up with had disappeared in front of me, leaving a man filled with anger and stress. I grew conflicted. My father was not only my hero but the hero of so many people across the country. I was happy and proud of that father. But the man that came back was not the same man that left. I caught glimpses of the dad I used to know. His reflection in the mirror was the same, but somewhere, there were invisible scars, something that I could not see. I should be proud of the times that my dad is greeted with the words, “Thank you for your service.” but that is the same service that stole the dad that I had and just left fragments of the man that he used to be. This realization brought about an understanding that sometimes what I see or think I understand, might not be the entire picture. It taught me to look deeper than what is easy for me to comprehend and understand that perception is not everything.

One of my proudest moments of high school was when I was asked to be the president of Arizona’s Governor’s Youth Commission. I know that I was not asked because I stood out on paper or that I was anything impossibly irreplaceable. I know that I was asked because of my ability to form personal connections. Building personal connections is my biggest skill. Through a personal connection, I am able to lead effectively, communicate, and grow in myself. I learned the value of personal connection at a young age, but I did not fully seek personal connection until my sophomore year of high school. During that year, I learned that the value of personal connection weighs more than intelligence or personal achievement on its own. I have developed this skill by exposing myself to leadership positions and challenging myself to step out of the comfort of my pre-made contacts. I demonstrate this by allowing myself to talk to everyone that I can and making sure that people know that I am personally interested in their lives.

I have every letter written to me since kindergarten, from the birthday cards that my grandmother sent me on my birthday to the heartfelt letters that my friend sent me from military boot camp sitting in a box under my bed. When I am sad, there is nothing that I love more than to pull out my box and read the handwritten words on the paper. It means the world to me that these people took their time to write their feelings, pen and paper. Anyone can send a text message. It takes two minutes to type and less than ten seconds to send and read. A letter is meaningful. Those words take time to write, to think of. The letter takes time to receive, with a stamp in the corner, like a piece of the writer’s heart being shipped by mail. Nothing can replace the beauty of notes with pen and paper. They will forever make me happy. While it is easy to find joy in small things, such as letters, I cannot ignore the blaring and obvious joy of my life which I like to call my sisters. While we do share the same blood, the connection is much deeper than that. My sisters never fail to brighten my mood. Through their lighthearted comments and their unconditional support, I can always count on them to be the light of my darkened days.

Not many people are able to find a career that is a perfect blend of their passions and their strengths; the legal realm does just that for me. My ability to communicate and connect with people serves as a great strength and working in the political world would provide a platform of advocacy. I have a servant's heart and want to give voice to those that might not have the same opportunities as myself. I am passionate about being able to use my voice to advocate for people that have not had the same opportunities and privileges as myself. I feel as though working as a lawyer I will be able to use my skills of building connections with other people as well as my ability to use my voice. Being in politics would allow me to make a large impact in my community and state. I, like so many people before me, want to make a difference. Life is so much more than independence and pride. I plan to use my skills of public speaking and personal connection, to become an immigration lawyer, advocating for people of all backgrounds, and eventually run for public office, using my platform to spark much-needed conversations about human trafficking and domestic violence. The world is small and life is short; I am going to try my best to make the impact I dream of.

Human trafficking is an often overlooked issue due to the misconception that it does not happen on American soil. Little do people know that our precious United States of America is in the top three countries for most human trafficking per capita. I learned about human trafficking from a youth organization that I became a part of. I was clueless about what human trafficking was and frankly, I was frustrated to be assigned a topic that I did not care about. As time progressed and I realized that my not knowing what human trafficking was or that it is a problem, was adding to the problem. After I properly educated myself on the dangers of ignorance and avoidance in America, I have grown passionate about raising awareness. I know that it is essential that I start the conversation of healthy relationships and human trafficking awareness, especially if no one else will. The best way to help human trafficking in America is to raise awareness for the issues that are taking place in America as well as the commonly known third-world countries.

The biggest topic that I have invested myself in throughout my high school years was raising awareness for human trafficking and domestic violence. By opening the doors of communication about this taboo topic is how I impacted my community positively. In my small city, I hosted a human trafficking awareness dance that ended up having over 100 students attend just before the COVID-19 pandemic. I have also hosted speakers from the county attorney’s office to discuss the problems of human trafficking in teens at the local high school. During the epidemic, I hosted two drives for the human trafficking shelter nearby, the Phoenix Dream Center. The first drive was for notebooks with notes of encouragement in them, of which I collected over 60 journals. The second was for Christmas cards, of which I collected over 500. It is no question that domestic violence cases have increased since the beginning of COVID-19. In April of 2021, I ran a city-wide hygiene drive to aid the local domestic violence shelter, Against Abuse Inc. After the month was done, I collected 4,053 items, totaling a value of roughly $13,000. Although these projects are small, it exposes my peers and people in the community to the problems that are often overlooked, especially in teens. Through these projects, I was able to start open conversations, which is an important factor in any awareness cause.

Human trafficking is an often overlooked issue due to the misconception that it does not happen on American soil. Little do people know that our precious United States of America is in the top three countries for most human trafficking per capita. I learned about human trafficking from a youth organization that I became a part of. I was clueless about what human trafficking was and frankly, I was frustrated to be assigned a topic that I did not care about. As time progressed and I realized that my not knowing what human trafficking was or that it is a problem, was adding to the problem. After I properly educated myself on the dangers of ignorance and avoidance in America, I have grown passionate about raising awareness. The best way to help human trafficking in America is to raise awareness for the issues that are taking place in America as well as the commonly known third-world countries. Throughout high school, I have begun taking the education of teens on this topic into my own hands. I have hosted drives- for journals, Christmas cards, and hygiene products- and events- such as human trafficking awareness dances. Although these projects are small, it begins the conversation. A conversation that is essential in decreasing rates of human trafficking. Starting a conversation is the only thing that I can do and I plan to do just that.

I have every letter written to me since kindergarten, from the birthday cards that my grandmother sent me on my birthday to the heartfelt letters that my friend sent me from military boot camp sitting in a box under my bed. When I am sad, there is nothing that I love more than to pull out my box and read the handwritten words on the paper. It means the world to me that these people took their time to write their feelings, pen and paper. Anyone can send a text message. It takes two minutes to type and less than ten seconds to send and read. A letter is meaningful. Those words take time to write, to think of. The letter takes time to receive, with a stamp in the corner, like a piece of the writer’s heart being shipped by mail. Nothing can replace the beauty of notes with pen and paper. They will forever make me happy. Sharpies, a girl that loves to craft dreams. Having every color neatly lined up in a container is something that makes me so happy. I love knowing that no matter what color I want, it is there whenever I need it. The colors and the smell always let me know that I am being creative. When I am able to write letters to the people I love, using the colors of Sharpies that I love, I am happy and nothing can change that. No matter how simple it seems, I find joy in the Sharpies and paper.

Many books challenged my thinking and made me rethink how I live, however, there is one book that has made a significant impact on my life. This book is “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult. Every person in this world is capable of actions that can be groundbreaking. Society had led me to believe that people with cancer were just people with cancer. They couldn’t quite have the same dreams and ambitions as me. While aspects of that might be true, my ignorance was corrected after reading “My Sister’s Keeper”, seeing that people think what is easiest for them to grasp, ignoring others’ feelings out of fear. I realize after reading the book that each person has their own value and purpose, one that they can define for themselves. I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight years old. I saw the law as a straightforward practice of protecting others. To me, there was a clear right and wrong. It did not appear to me that there are going to be times when what is right is not clear. I realized this when reading this book. Anna was created with the purpose of being used to aid Kate in her recovery. After understanding that the parents want to do what is best for Kate in keeping her alive, and also understanding that putting Anna through the medical trauma was unfair, I saw that the law was much less black and white than I thought. Without literature challenging the human mind to expand and grow, society would remain stagnant. No progression, no growth, no justice. Before reading the book “My Sister’s Keeper”, everything seemed simple: black or white, guilty or not guilty, right or wrong. “My Sister’s Keeper” challenged my thinking and changed my perceptions.

When I was asked to choose someone throughout history that inspired me in third grade, I drew a blank. I had no ideas. I scavenged the biography section of the library hoping to not have to get stuck with a stereotypical George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, men that did have an impact on history but did not have an impact on me. Eventually, I found one, a person that finally did not seem drab and boring, Sandra Day O’Connor. Of course, as a child, we emulate people that we see as successful. It was because of Sandra Day O’Connor that I started wanting to be a lawyer at the young age of eight years old; that dream never died out. Sandra Day O’Connor is commonly known as the first female judge to serve on the United States of America Supreme Court. However, O’Connor was also an Arizona state Senator in the years 1970 and continued to have pragmatic opinions regarding all topics despite political association. She continuously advocated for women’s rights and equal protection of the United States law. Sandra Day O’Connor not only inspires career goals while showing little girls that they can do anything, she also shows that character is much more important than alliance. I admire Sandra Day O'Connor's strength and bravery in becoming a person that people of all backgrounds can look to as inspiration. Everyone has a voice and it is our responsibility to make sure ours is heard.

When I was fifteen years old, my biggest fear was adjusting to high school. Thoughts of high school crushes and math tests filled my mind. It is heartbreaking to think of the other people that haven't been graced with these milestones. The average age of a child entering human trafficking is fifteen years old. Human trafficking is an ever-growing problem and there needs to be something done about this. No one wants to talk about human trafficking. So, the conversations go unnoticed. Teenagers are unaware that this is a problem in their own country. I suppose the reasoning is, why talk about something that might scare them. However, it is a talk that needs to be had. The biggest way to aid in the fight against trafficking is to talk openly about human trafficking, healthy relationships, and having a safe place to ask questions. From online grooming to Romeo trafficking, there are countless warning signs that the youth is not aware of. With one small conversation, there could be countless teenagers and youth adults saved from entering an unhealthy relationship. Simply discussing the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships could make a world of impact. Teenagers need a place where they can go to ask questions and seek guidance without the fear of judgment. Unfortunately, we have not been able to provide these resources on a consistent basis. Most people would say that slavery was a thing of the past; however, as we can tell, modern-day slavery, human trafficking, still plague American soil, despite our ignorance telling us that we are safe from harm. Open the doors of discussion. Spark conversations about healthy boundaries. Be a faucet of information. The only way to work on the problem of human trafficking is to normalize these conversations one word at a time.

Many books challenged my thinking and made me rethink how I live, however, there is one book that has made a significant impact on my life. This book is “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult. Every person in this world is capable of actions that can be groundbreaking. Society had led me to believe that people with cancer were just people with cancer. They couldn’t quite have the same dreams and ambitions as myself. While aspects of that might be true, my ignorance was corrected after reading “My Sister’s Keeper”, seeing that people think what is easiest for them to grasp, ignoring other’s feelings out of fear. I realize after reading the book that each person has their own value and purpose, one that they can define for themselves. I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight years old. I saw law as a straight-forward practice of protecting others. To me, there was a clear right and wrong. It did not appear to me that there are going to be times when what is right is not clear. I realized this when reading this book. Anna was created with the purpose of being used to aid Kate in her recovery. After understanding that the parents want to do what is best for Kate in keeping her alive, and also understanding that putting Anna through the medical trauma was unfair, I saw that the law was much less black and white than I thought. Without literature challenging the human mind to expand and grow, society would remain stagnant. No progression, no growth, no justice. Before reading the book “My Sister’s Keeper”, everything seemed simple: black or white, guilty or not guilty, right or wrong. “My Sister’s Keeper” challenged my thinking and changed my perceptions.

Why is it that no matter what a woman chooses to do, there is always something wrong with it? Girls that like makeup, girls that like to read, girls that wear short skirts, girls that only wear sweatshirts. No matter what a woman does, it is wrong. Society has seemed to have blurred the lines of what is wrong, and what is wrong merely because someone is a female. However, throughout time, time and time again, society has attempted to push females down, make them significant and menial parts of a man’s life, and yet, here we are, empowering ourselves when no one else will. Society needs to get behind the revolution that has been so many years in the making and begin empowering women where we are at today. The biggest thing that society can do to effectively empower women is to begin punishing the men’s gaze that seem to overstep boundaries rather than attempting to push the pressure of conforming to the male mind on the women. Moral and social constructs are introduced young. It is heartbreaking to see how little the idea of equality is shared among young boys and girls. School aged girls still come home in tears from having their hair pulled on the bus and are greeted with a, “Boys do that when they like you. It’s okay.” Girls learn to start associating violence with affection, a distinction that many parents think is a problem that can be jumped later in life, but when they realize that this little girl grew up and is not in a high school relationship that leaves bruises on her arms and she is covering her black eyes with makeup, we look back. It was the parents that did not teach that girl to stand up for herself. They taught her that it was acceptable for that little boy to yank her hair as hard as he wanted, even if it brought her to tears because, well, it was just an innocent crush, right? Little boys are told that they are stronger and faster, being well represented in the media as independent and capable. They are subliminally taught to disregard girls as mere entertainment pieces. Even as those school age girls get older, everything is still her fault. Victim blaming is being taught subconsciously across the nation and the society is accepting it. “Her skirt was too short.” “She deserved it.” “She’s a slut.” The list goes on and on. No matter what happens, it is somehow always a woman’s fault. While even women acknowledge this, we are trapped in societal norms and consistencies. When we speak out, we are ridiculed for being crazy feminists with obnoxious ideas, but if we stay quiet, we are being complacent of our own trap. There is no winning, not for women. Unfortunately, rather than teaching our boys that women are something to be valued and cherished, people that deserve equality and not the current externalized and internalized misogyny, we have valued teaching what is easy. It is easier to teach girls to be submissive and coy, feeding the values of the patriarchy as opposed to crushing down the masculine egos to get true equality. However, easier is not always right.

I grew up thinking that the hours of the day were collected somewhere between the National Anthem and TAPS; during those six and a half minutes, lives paused to reflect on pride of country and acknowledge ultimate sacrifices. As a military brat, my world was small, but also so much larger than I could comprehend. My dad bloused his combat boots and my family was one without roots. We made home wherever the papers read. The benefits of growing up in the military are easily balanced out by the harsh realities of the hardships faced by those praying for the empty seat at the dinner table. Just as quickly as the orders were printed, my dad went from being my best friend to a man that I barely recognize. My dad was my hero; I carried his picture and a sense of pride bigger than my young self. The man in uniform that came home decorated in camo was a personal guard of my mind, body, and most importantly, my heart. Having a father that you are proud of is a blessing that too few children can claim. Luckily, I can hold my head up and say firmly that I was proud of my father, or at least I thought I could. As time passed, the realities slowly unfolded and I understood more. The military was not just about seeing camels and protecting little girls in far away lands that needed to borrow daddies to keep them safe. War. War was devastating nations and tearing families apart. I do not remember when my life changed; maybe the change just subtly creeped in like the early morning fog. It was just there one day, I realized that it had. My dad stopped being my hero. He became someone constantly battling everyone and everything seemingly fighting to live. Sometimes his presence was like a tornado leaving disparity and confusion everywhere he touched and others he became irrelevant, a ghost despite living in the same house. It is easy to blame this on the natural distance between a teenager and her father, but this is something beyond. Five times, five times he found himself on foreign soil with a weapon in his hands. Five times he packed a bag and turned from his family to fight a fight bigger than most can comprehend. He finally hung up the beret, but he turned back to his family tangled with PTSD. My family changed, morphed into something that I never could have imagined. Nights that were once filled with joyful walks, laughter and a palpable closeness turned to tensions, silence, and walking on eggshells. The kind, fun-loving man quick with a joke in his pocket had disappeared, leaving us a father seeping with anger and anxiety. The one that used to wear the superhero cape was now someone unrecognizable. The face in family pictures was the same, but somewhere he wears invisible scars, something that I can not see. He is fighting in his head and I am helpless to ease his pains. His body is beside me, but his mind is still lost in the desert somewhere. I should feel pride when greeted with the words, “Thank you for your service.”, but that service stole my dad and left me fragments of the man I loved. The life of a military child is one of great privilege and honor. There are countless opportunities and experiences that have shaped me and provided me a worldly understanding of culture and humankind. I am so grateful to have been brought up serving under the flag however, nothing in life comes without a cost. The sticker price for me just happens to be my dad.

Human trafficking is a global issue that is even happening in the United States of America. Despite this being an issue in our communities, human trafficking remains a taboo topic to discuss, leaving teens and young adults ignorant to the safety precautions and acceptable boundaries in teen relationships. In my community, I have started a movement called CGStoptheTraffik that has completed and planned numerous events to end the stigma around sexual assault and raise awareness for human trafficking. Throughout the year of 2020, my events shifted to virtual and social distancing to remain safe around the global pandemic. Some of these events include, an awareness dance, pre-COVID, school presentations, two drives, participating in a domestic violence panel, and began an awareness campaign through posters, flyers, and social media pages. My largest events include the drives and the dance. I hosted two drives for the Phoenix Safe House, a human trafficking survivor shelter. The first was ran in July and collected over 50 journals. The other was ran in November and collected just under 500 Christmas cards. The human trafficking dance was hosted in January of 2020 and had 200 students participants. In this upcoming year, I am planning a local panel of experts, school certifications for teachers and students, and school presentations. Along with that, I am planning to make our previous evens annual. The awareness campaigns are continuously updated and active. The only way to end human trafficking and to prevent further harm is to raise awareness of human trafficking and be comfortable discussing the topic openly. my goal is to educate my community's youth in resources, helplines, and how to draw and enforce appropriate boundaries. I am glad to become a part of my community and excited to aid more teens and young adults.

Failure is a word of nightmares. As I entered high school, failure became my biggest fear. I was top of my class, an honors student, super involved, and the list went on and on of ways that others would describe me. I based my entire day to day life on this value. I became the poster child that everyone else me to be because I was scared that if I didn't, I wouldn't be liked, I would no longer be "me". In my sophomore year in high school, I was being sexually assaulted. For the same reason that I became this "ideal" student, I did not speak up. I was scared and I did not want others to think differently of me. Eventually, the pressure was being put on me, became too much for my brain and heart to handle. My relationship with my family was strained. I didn't feel like I had friends that cared about me. This caused a breakdown of sorts. I stopped working as hard. I slipped up in multiple places in my life. I fell behind because I felt that if I couldn't be what everyone wanted me to be, I might as well become the exact opposite. I am incredibly grateful for my friends that did care about me and my family supported me in whoever I wanted to be because they were the ones that picked me up. I realized that while I was living my life for everyone else, I wasn't truly living at all. Soon after that, I started speaking up about sexual assault. I started doing what I liked doing, not what others wanted me to do. I started living for me. I love my life. I found my passions. I found my community. I found who I want to be. I am still top of my class, I am still an honors student, I am still involved but, I am those things for me. I do not concern myself with what other people want me to be because I don't have to be that. I am my own person. I am strong. I am valuable. I am capable of choosing who I want to be. That point in my life, where I failed and I felt it, pushed me to find my own self- worth and value who I am without needing outside reassurance. I now know that it does not matter what other people want me to be. As long as I am a good person and I love myself, that is all I need.

I never thought that a teenage girl could make a difference in her community. I believed the high school stereotypes that are portrayed in movies of teenagers that make no positive impact other than an occasional compliment to someone else. As I have grown, I realize that the stories that are told are not what has to be made. I realized that I can make a difference. Throughout this past year, I have been working on raising awareness about human trafficking. I have ran a human trafficking awareness dance, brought a development presentation to my school, and started human trafficking awareness social media Instagram account, @cgstopthetraffik. During this global pandemic, it has been brought to my attention that countless human trafficking survivors have been pushed back into their previous lives. The lives were they were trapped and controlled by someone other than themselves. In hopes of easing some of the tensions, I formed a connection to the human trafficking safe house in Phoenix, Arizona. I ran a drive to collect journals with uplifting messages on the front pages that were given to the survivors in the safehouse. In July, I collected 45 journals that were donated. I am currently running the continuous journal drive, while also collecting written- in Christmas cards and hosting a hygiene drive in my high school. I am eager to move forward to make an even larger impact. The greatest challenge that I have faced in giving back is the struggle of feeling helpless and feeling as though my efforts are for not. The hardest position that I have ever been involved in happened in April 2020. Someone messaged me on my social account saying that they were being trafficked and went into details of numerous things that have happened to them. I quickly encourage the human trafficking hotline and offered to find a safe house for them in their area. They were not receptive to the information and let me know that they were not seeking help, just a place to share their story. I was dumbfounded and terrified. I felt as though I was merely a teenage girl that was trying to help but, I couldn't. That is when I realized that not every person is seeking help in the same way that I want to help them. I also understood that sometimes it is hard to help someone, giving back isn't something that can always go without a hiccup, especially considering a topic as serious as human trafficking. I plan to use this grant to pursue an education in law and international affairs. I hope to work toward becoming a lawyer to aid the survivors in convicting their former pimps. I am also interested in running for public office in politics to work on changing the small 1% of survivors that get rescued from human trafficking. Human trafficking is taboo. As a become older, I am eager for my voice to reach a larger demographic by pursuing law and politics. I am excited to continue my growth in aiding those in need. I am just a teenage girl. I face silly struggles of acne and girl drama. But, I also am a teenage girl that concerns herself with something so much larger than my own life. I know that I can change the world, even if I'm just changing one person's world. I am capable of much more than even I give myself credit for. Raising awareness of a taboo topic is a challenge, a challenge that I am ready for.

Human trafficking is a global problem that is often overlooked by people of all kinds, especially in the United States. On January 31, 2020, the last day of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, I hosted and ran a Human Trafficking Awareness Dance for teenagers in my town of Casa Grande. I found a venue in a building that was no longer being used. I also found a sponsorship from both Casa Grande Alliance and Zonta International. Along with this, I partnered with the local SADD chapter. Overall, I logged approximately 150 high school students in attendance.